Thailand: 2 injured in explosion at Bangkok protest site

BANGKOK (AP) — Two men were injured in a small explosion at an anti-government protest site in Bangkok on Saturday, the latest violence to mark the political showdown that has gripped Thailand for the past three months.

The men were hurt following an explosive sound behind the stage at the protest site in northern Bangkok, said Erawan emergency medical services, which tracks protest-related casualties.

At least 10 people have been killed and scores injured in connection with the protests.

The protesters are seeking to have caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra step down to make way for an interim appointed government to implement what they say are necessary reforms to fight corruption.

According to Thai journalists’ postings on Twitter, two grenades fired from an M79 launcher exploded at the site shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday. They reported a similar incident there on Thursday night in which no one was hurt. The perpetrators are not known in either of the attacks.

Protesters have battled police on several occasions, and have been the object of several attacks for which no one has been apprehended.

Thailand has been wracked by political unrest since 2006 when Yingluck’s brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted by a military coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. Since then, his supporters and opponents have vied for power, sometimes violently.